The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) Chennai unit has initiated preliminary steps to probe the larger conspiracy in the 2003 killing of nine fishermen at the seaside village of Marad, near Kozhikode.
Incident in 2003
It is learnt the police have handed over the files relating to the massacre in the fishing hamlet on May 2, 2003 to the CBI unit.
A fresh First Information Report (FIR) will be registered in the State in connection with the probe.
A division bench of the Kerala High Court had in November asked the CBI to take over the investigation while considering a public interest litigation filed by Kolakkadan Moosa Haji in 2012.
The State government, which did not oppose a CBI probe, had been directed to provide necessary infrastructure to the investigating agency to carry out smooth conduct of the investigation. Previously, the police had registered a criminal case on the larger conspiracy, but to no avail.
‘Terrorist activity’
However, former Crime Branch SP C.M. Pradeepkumar, who had impleaded himself in the case, had alleged that the Marad massacre was a terrorist activity having international connections.
The CBI will examine the larger conspiracy involving external forces, source of explosives, huge quantities of weapons collected, and source of funds used in the planning and execution of the massacre.
‘Larger conspiracy’
The Thomas P. Joseph Commission of Inquiry appointed by the State government had pointed out that the State police had not investigated the larger conspiracy and recommended a probe by Central agencies attached to the Intelligence Bureau, CBI, and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
